S'pore emerges as one of the top most searched CNY getaways for Chinese tourists

Singapore has become one of the most sought-after overseas destinations for Chinese travellers during the 2026 Chinese New Year period, ranking as the second-most searched location on Booking.com, according to new travel platform data.

Search interest in Singapore among Chinese travellers jumped sharply year on year, signalling strong festive travel momentum as China begins its extended national holiday break.

Singapore climbs travel wish-lists for festive season

With China ushering in a nine-day Chinese New Year holiday, millions of travellers are expected to take advantage of the longer break to travel abroad.

Booking.com data cited by The Straits Times (ST) showed Singapore was the second-most searched destination for Chinese travellers for the festive period, behind Paris, with Bangkok in third place.

Searches for Singapore reportedly rose by more than fourfold between 2025 and 2026.

Industry watchers say the rise reflects Singapore’s continued appeal as a short-haul, convenient and culturally familiar holiday option for mainland visitors.

China leads inbound travel market for Singapore during CNY 2026

Beyond search rankings, booking and arrival trends also point to China as Singapore’s largest inbound travel source during the festive period.

Trip.com’s Chinese New Year travel report identified mainland China as the top source market for inbound travel to Singapore, according to ST, followed by Malaysia and Indonesia.

Separately, travel marketing firm Sojern reported a broader rebound in outbound demand, with flight bookings from China up 21 per cent and hotel bookings rising 23 per cent compared to the previous year, according to Travel Weekly Asia.

Singapore was among the regional destinations seeing the strongest bookings from Chinese travellers, alongside Thailand, Australia and South Korea.

More flights added as Changi prepares for festive spike

To cope with the anticipated influx, airlines and airports have expanded capacity during the Chinese New Year travel rush.

Changi Airport Group announced earlier in January 2026 that six Chinese carriers would operate more than 600 additional flights between Singapore and 15 Chinese cities over the festive season.

Notably, this is also the first time extra seasonal flights have been introduced to several secondary Chinese cities such as Nanchang, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Wuhan and Zhengzhou, reflecting growing demand beyond major hubs like Beijing and Shanghai.

Why Singapore is becoming an even hotter pick for Chinese tourists

Industry observers say several factors may be pushing Singapore higher up the travel list for mainland visitors.

One trend highlighted in local reporting is that some Chinese travellers view Singapore as a “safe” and accessible alternative in the region, even as costs in the city remain relatively high.

Another factor is shifting travel sentiment towards Japan.

Some Chinese tourists have cancelled or avoided trips to Japan amid geopolitical tensions, instead opting for destinations in Southeast Asia such as Singapore.

Singapore’s proximity, ease of travel planning, and strong air connectivity may have further strengthened its position as a regional festive getaway.

Top image via Google maps